Congratulations to Guy Opperman: "Guy Opperman is a barrister and published writer and rides as an amateur steeplechase jockey. In 2006 he ran (and finished) the New York Marathon. He has been an adviser to senior Conservative Party figures for several years – particularly to the former Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Ancram QC MP – and ran for Parliament in 1997 and 2005."

ConHome understands that Hexham will advertise from today. Hexham is the only Tory held seat in the North East and will attract a large number of applicants following Peter Atkinson MP's decision to step down.

One candidate already selected for a much harder-to-win NE seat requested permission to apply for Hexham; a permission that was (rightly) denied. Also denied permission was Martin Callanan MEP. Mr Callanan is ranked number one on the regional list for next year's European elections but had wanted to be in the running for Hexham. CCHQ denied Mr Callanan's request to apply for the seat, citing rules that require all MEP candidates to eschew Westminster ambitions until after next June's European elections. CCHQ has been willing to make exceptions in the past, however, and did so for Theresa Villiers in the past.

Some local Conservatives expect usual attempts by CCHQ to influence the process. On the margins of the Birmingham Conference, party officials were seen making strategic introductions for favoured candidates.

Mr Atkinson's decision to retire was too late, however, to win the Chairman a ticket to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. Earlier this year the Chairmen of the most winnable selecting seats were allocated tickets by CCHQ that were normally given to reward long or exceptional service by members of the voluntary party.

Peter Atkinson, the Conservatives' only MP in the North East, has announced that he will be standing down from the Hexham seat at the next General Election;

"This week I announced to the Executive Committee of the Hexham Conservative Association that I will not be standing at the next election.

It looks increasingly likely that we will not have a General Election until May 2010, by which time I will be 67. With that in mind, I have decided it would be an appropriate time for me to stand aside. I think it is only fair that I make my intentions clear now in order to give my successor the opportunity to become established in the role of parliamentary candidate.

I very much hope that he or she will go on to secure a healthy majority at the next general election and play a full part in a David Cameron led Conservative Government.

It is an enormous privilege to serve the people of the Hexham Constituency as their MP and it is certainly âbusiness as usualâ up until the next election."